Nadege Preston

About Me:Hi I’m Nadege and I study French at the University of Leeds, and I have just completed my third year abroad in Montpellier studying literature and enjoying the sunshine! I love art; painting and being creative, as well as photography and baking. Travelling is my favourite hobby at the moment; experiencing the French language and culture. I hope you enjoy reading some of my articles!

Paris – a daily itinerary

Ever wanted to visit Paris but you feel overwhelmed by the fact that it’s a new capital, you don’t speak the language, and you haven’t a clue how to get around? Have no fear; this article will prepare you for a weekend away in Paris, the cultural hub of France. Although there may be so many places to go and things to do, it is just as easy as London to get around. Using the metro, the RER and buses or even taxis, you will be absolutely fine. Also, in Paris most people will actually speak to you in English rather than in French because of the number of tourists the capital attracts. In order for you to make the most of your stay in Paris, I will put together an itinerary so that you are able to fit in all the iconic monuments and attractions during your stay. This itinerary will be based on a three day stay in Paris.

Day 1:

Using your metro map, take the metro or RER to Charles de Gaulle – Étoile, which will bring you directly to the Arc de Triomphe, which is the monument which remembers those who fought and lost their lives in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. There is always a flame lit to forever remember the soldiers.

From here, you are able to walk down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, which is the main shopping street in Paris, where is located shops such as Louis Vuitton and the LaDurée macaroon shop.

When you reach the end of this road, you will walk through some gardens and reach the Place de la Concorde, which is an iconic square. After this, you will reach the Jardin des Tuileries which are lovely gardens you can sunbathe in or sit by the pond. If you fancy it, there is the Musée de l’Orangerie to the right of the gardens, as you are about to enter. In this art museum is where is kept the large wall pieces painted by Monet of the water lilies, which is definitely worth seeing. When you reach the end of the gardens, you will see the Musée du Louvre, which is where is kept the Mona Lisa, and is famous for the triangle appearance of the museum.

If you then walk along the river, to the right of the Museum as you face it, you will reach the bridge called Pont des Arts. This used to be the bridge where people attached padlocks, as a sign of their love for each other. However, these padlocks have recently been removed due to health and safety, as they were too heavy for the bridge to hold. Once you have crossed this bridge, walk along the river until you see the Notre Dame. Along this river are very nice places you can stop for lunch which are cheaper than around the actual Notre Dame. You will then have to cross a bridge on your left to reach the Notre Dame, and depending how tired you are feeling you can walk up this monument, which in my opinion gives you the best views across Paris. Then, you can stay in this area where there are many things to do and many restaurants to eat out in for dinner. During the evenings, the Notre Dame area is very popular, with a bustling nightlife.